The Oklahoma Sooners continued their dominant start to the 2025 softball season with a resounding 9-0 victory over Loyola Marymount at Smith Field in Los Angeles, CA, on Saturday. Powered by four home runs and a stellar pitching performance from Louisiana transfer Sam Landry, the No. 3-ranked Sooners improved to 5-0 on the year.
Pickering Sets the Tone Early
Sophomore slugger Kasidi Pickering wasted no time igniting the Sooners’ offense. In just the third at-bat of the game, Pickering launched a three-run home run to center field, driving in Abigale Dayton and Ella Parker, who had both reached base to start the contest. The blast was the first of four home runs on the day for Oklahoma and set the tone for a five-run first inning.
The Sooners took advantage of Loyola Marymount’s defensive struggles as well. A hard-hit ball from Gabbie Garcia proved too difficult for LMU’s Justine Lambert at second base, allowing Sydney Barker to score. Cydney Sanders then crossed home plate after an infield single from Ailana Agbayani, capping off a powerful opening frame that put the Sooners ahead 5-0.
Sooners Keep the Pressure On
Oklahoma continued to flex its offensive muscle in the second inning. Parker, who has enjoyed a stellar start to the 2025 season, blasted her first home run of the year to extend the Sooners’ lead to 6-0. Through five games, Parker has already driven in seven runs, proving to be a crucial piece in Oklahoma’s high-powered lineup.
In the third inning, Sanders joined the home run party, sending a solo shot over the left-field wall for her first of the season. With a 7-0 lead after just three innings, the Sooners had firmly established control of the game.
Landry Shines in the Circle
While the offense piled on the runs, Landry was dealing from the circle. The right-hander retired the first eight batters she faced and allowed just four hits and one walk in a complete-game shutout. She struck out eight batters and worked efficiently to keep Loyola Marymount off balance all game long.
Landry’s most impressive moment came in the sixth inning when she faced her only real challenge of the afternoon. A double, a stolen base, and a hit batter put runners on the corners with no outs. But Oklahoma’s defense stepped up—Sanders made a clutch catch on a line drive and quickly dove back to first for a double play. Landry then forced a ground ball to Agbayani at second base, who made the easy out to end the threat and keep the Lions scoreless.
Milloy Puts the Game Away
After three quiet innings, the Sooners’ offense found another spark in the top of the seventh. Tia Milloy, making her return to the lineup, crushed a two-run homer off the roof of Loyola Marymount’s hitting facility beyond the right-field wall. The towering shot secured Oklahoma’s fourth home run of the game and pushed the lead to 9-0.
Landry returned to the circle in the bottom of the seventh, closing out the game in dominant fashion. Her complete-game shutout marked her first as a Sooner, further solidifying her role as a key asset in Oklahoma’s pitching rotation.
Key Takeaways and Stats
- Kasidi Pickering: 1-for-4, 3-run home run (2nd of the season)
- Ella Parker: 1-for-3, solo home run (1st of the season)
- Cydney Sanders: 2-for-3, solo home run (1st of the season)
- Tia Milloy: 1-for-2, 2-run home run (homered in consecutive games)
- Sam Landry: Complete-game shutout, 4 hits, 8 strikeouts, 1 walk
- Oklahoma’s Offense: 4 home runs, 9 runs on 9 hits
- Nine different Sooners have homered through five games
What’s Next?
The Sooners will look to wrap up their season-opening California road trip on a high note when they face Long Beach State on Sunday, February 9, at 1 p.m. CT. Fans can catch the action live on ESPN+ as Oklahoma aims to remain undefeated and continue their early-season dominance.
Follow us on Twitter: @SportsHeartland